flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 7000

ASRS Report

81868

Person 2

Function

flight crew : first officer

Qualification

pilot : atp

Events

Anomaly

other anomaly other

Independent Detector

other flight crewa

Resolutory Action

none taken : anomaly accepted

Consequence

Other

Supplementary

Primary Problem

ATC Human Performance

Air Traffic Incident

other

Narrative:

We medium large transport X were cleared into position and hold on runway 18R at mem. After taking the runway and holding in position for a short period (30 second - 1 min) we were advised by tower that an 'small transport Y passing left to right over departure end of runway-cleared for takeoff.' we both observed the traffic and acknowledged traffic and takeoff clearance to each other and tower and made the takeoff. Just after gear retraction the tower said 'medium large transport X cleared for takeoff.' first officer advised tower we had been cleared for takeoff and were airborne. Tower then simply told us to contact departure control. Due to the fact that we were both absolutely positive of having gotten takeoff clearance and volume of traffic on tower frequency we went to departure control and no further mention of the matter was made by us on ATC. We had small transport Y traffic in sight at all times through departure and initial climb and it never was a factor. It is always a bit uncomfortable in these situations where the controling facility is not certain of 'who's on first' and the normal scapegoat of any misunderstanding is the cockpit crew. This can detract from the primary duties of flying the machine.

Title: MLG GIVEN TRAFFIC INFORMATION TKOF CLRNC. WHEN LIFTING OFF TWR GAVE SECOND TKOF CLRNC TO MLG CAUSING CONCERN.

Narrative: WE MLG X WERE CLRED INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 18R AT MEM. AFTER TAKING THE RWY AND HOLDING IN POS FOR A SHORT PERIOD (30 SEC - 1 MIN) WE WERE ADVISED BY TWR THAT AN 'SMT Y PASSING LEFT TO RIGHT OVER DEP END OF RWY-CLRED FOR TKOF.' WE BOTH OBSERVED THE TFC AND ACKNOWLEDGED TFC AND TKOF CLRNC TO EACH OTHER AND TWR AND MADE THE TKOF. JUST AFTER GEAR RETRACTION THE TWR SAID 'MLG X CLRED FOR TKOF.' F/O ADVISED TWR WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF AND WERE AIRBORNE. TWR THEN SIMPLY TOLD US TO CONTACT DEP CTL. DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE BOTH ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE OF HAVING GOTTEN TKOF CLRNC AND VOLUME OF TFC ON TWR FREQ WE WENT TO DEP CTL AND NO FURTHER MENTION OF THE MATTER WAS MADE BY US ON ATC. WE HAD SMT Y TFC IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES THROUGH DEP AND INITIAL CLB AND IT NEVER WAS A FACTOR. IT IS ALWAYS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE IN THESE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CTLING FACILITY IS NOT CERTAIN OF 'WHO'S ON FIRST' AND THE NORMAL SCAPEGOAT OF ANY MISUNDERSTANDING IS THE COCKPIT CREW. THIS CAN DETRACT FROM THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF FLYING THE MACHINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.